Everybody in the Pool

This week, we’re talking about renewable fuels — specifically cleaner propane. Propane, as it turns out, is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions that not a lot of people are tackling. Dr. Rebecca Boudreaux, President and CEO of Oberon Fuels, talks about the company's work in decarbonizing the global propane sector. Oberon Fuels produces molecules out of bio-waste that can be blended into cleaner propane, and used in various applications, including transportation, industrial, and residential heating. The company leverages existing infrastructure and works with partners in the propane industry to bring renewable fuels to market. Boudreaux also highlights the challenges of commercializing new technologies—including having to spearhead a whole new set of tax regulations.Links:Oberon Fuels: https://www.oberonfuels.com/All episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member and get an ad-free version of the podcast: https://plus.acast.com/s/everybody-in-the-poolPlease subscribe and tell your friends about Everybody in the Pool! Send feedback or become a sponsor at in@everybodyinthepool.com!

We need battery materials, but we also need to reduce mining and critical minerals extraction and centralizing production outside our borders. So, this week, we’re talking about making batteries from old batteries. Mike O'Kronley, CEO of Ascend Elements, discusses the mission of his company to make batteries more sustainable by producing high-performance cathode materials from recycled batteries. The focus is on NMC batteries, which are primarily used in electric vehicles (EVs) and grid storage. By recycling critical minerals like nickel and cobalt, Ascend Elements helps address supply chain security and reduce the carbon footprint of battery production. The company also solves the problem of battery recycling, debunking the myth that EV batteries end up in landfills.Links:Ascend Elements: https://ascendelements.com/All episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member and get an ad-free version of the podcast: https://plus.acast.com/s/everybody-in-the-poolPlease subscribe and tell your friends about Everybody in the Pool! Send feedback or become a sponsor at in@everybodyinthepool.com!

We talk to a lot of startups, but this week’s guest is a platform for inspiring and supporting a whole bunch of startups! Alysia Garmulewicz, co-founder and co-CEO of Materiom, discusses the importance of developing regenerative biomaterials as alternatives to petroleum plastics. Materiom offers an open database of biomaterial recipes, providing entrepreneurs and innovators with the information they need to create new materials. They also integrate generative AI into their platform to help startups optimize their biomaterial formulations and shorten the R&D cycle. The goal is to replace materials in sectors like packaging and textiles, with a focus on fast-moving consumer goods.Links:Materiom: https://materiom.org/aboutAll episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member and get an ad-free version of the podcast: https://plus.acast.com/s/everybody-in-the-poolPlease subscribe and tell your friends about Everybody in the Pool! Send feedback or become a sponsor at in@everybodyinthepool.com!

Every thriving ecosystem needs connectors, support systems—pollinators, in fact. This week, Molly is joined by Jon Bonanno, the managing partner of Factor, to talk about building great climate companies with a combination of human skills, networking and introductions, and smarter ways to raise money. Jon pivoted into climate tech after the attacks of 9/11 left him deeply shaken. He emphasizes the violence and centralization of the fossil economy and the need for a transition to a clean economy that benefits all communities. He also explains the grant-making process and how it can be used as a commercialization tool for companies without requiring them to give up huge amounts of equity in their companies. Factor is a grant writing and advisory firm that helps climate companies navigate the grant application process.Links: Factor: https://www.factor.eco/All episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member and get an ad-free version of the podcast: https://plus.acast.com/s/everybody-in-the-poolPlease subscribe and tell your friends about Everybody in the Pool! Send feedback or become a sponsor at in@everybodyinthepool.com!

Agriculture contributes to climate change, sure, but climate change also makes agriculture a whole lot harder. This week, Poornima Parameswaran, co-founder and CEO of Trace Genomics, discusses the company's mission to unlock the hidden potential of soil and empower farmers to make data-driven decisions. By analyzing DNA mapping, data science, and machine learning, Trace Genomics provides farmers with comprehensive insights into their soil's biological and chemical properties. The data is used to optimize farming practices, improve yields, and mitigate disease risks. The goal is to build resilient soils and create a sustainable food system that’s ready for any climate.Links:Trace Genomics: https://tracegenomics.com/All episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member and get an ad-free version of the podcast: https://plus.acast.com/s/everybody-in-the-poolPlease subscribe and tell your friends about Everybody in the Pool! Send feedback or become a sponsor at in@everybodyinthepool.com!

Dana R. Fisher, author of “Saving Ourselves: From Climate Shocks to Climate Action,” discusses the importance of activism in addressing the climate crisis. She explains that while the state and the market have not been able to solve the crisis, civil society has a crucial role to play. Fisher highlights the role of the radical flank, which engages in attention-getting actions to raise awareness and expand the movement (like throwing orange cornstarch on Stonehenge).She emphasizes that these actions are nonviolent and aim to draw more people who are sympathetic to the cause. Fisher also discusses the need for a mass movement that pushes back against fossil fuel interests and works through various channels, including the electoral process and lobbying. And we discuss what it takes to turn attention-getting actions into mass mobilization.Links:Saving Ourselves, the book: https://cup.columbia.edu/book/saving-ourselves/9780231557870Buy from the publisher with discount code CUP20All episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member and get an ad-free version of the podcast: https://plus.acast.com/s/everybody-in-the-poolPlease subscribe and tell your friends about Everybody in the Pool! Send feedback or become a sponsor at in@everybodyinthepool.com!

In this episode, we take you on an exciting journey to the ARPA-E Innovation Summit in Dallas, Texas. ARPA-E is a division of the government’s advanced research and projects agency, tasked with finding and funding the latest and greatest technology innovations to transform America’s energy production and use. Join Molly Wood on a walking tour of the summit’s expo hall, where she dives into the world of electric airplanes, laser-manufactured steel, and innovative solutions for the oil and gas industry.Links:ARPA-E Summit: https://www.arpae-summit.com/All episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member and get an ad-free version of the podcast: https://plus.acast.com/s/everybody-in-the-poolPlease subscribe and tell your friends about Everybody in the Pool! Send feedback or become a sponsor! in@everybodyinthepool.com

Coffee, chocolate, oranges, berries, and a lot more foods are at risk of becoming harder to grow and even outright scarce as climate change worsens—oh and existing agriculture has lots of negative climate impacts. What if we could make high-quality, sustainable food accessible to everyone? In this episode of Everybody in the Pool, Molly Wood speaks with Gilwoo Lee, founder and CEO of Zordi. Zordi is an ag-tech company that combines greenhouses, robots, and AI to create autonomous food-growing environments that address the challenges of climate change and food security.In This Episode, We Cover:The origins and mission of ZordiHow Zordi’s technology combines greenhouses, robots, and AI for sustainable farmingThe environmental and economic benefits of local, automated food productionChallenges and breakthroughs in indoor farmingThe future of Zordi's technology and its potential impact on global food systemsLinks:Zordi: https://www.zordi.com/All episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member and get an ad-free version of the podcast: https://plus.acast.com/s/everybody-in-the-poolPlease subscribe and tell your friends about Everybody in the Pool!Send feedback or become a sponsor! in@everybodyinthepool.com

We all know we need companies to lead the climate transition, so which companies are doing the work? In this episode of Everybody in the Pool, Molly Wood speaks with Megan Lorenzen, Director of Climate and Energy at Salesforce, about the company's groundbreaking efforts in sustainability. Salesforce has achieved a rare milestone: powering its operations with 100% renewable energy. It’s also pushing industry changes like the Green Code Initiative, which reduces carbon emissions via efficient coding practices.But the company’s newest move is the launch of its Salesforce Sustainable AI Principles, which focus on reducing AI's environmental impact while promoting innovation. These principles direct its own AI development but also call for AI regulation that takes climate impact into account, in addition to other considerations.In This Episode, We Cover:Salesforce's journey to 100% renewable energyThe impact of Salesforce's Green Code initiative on reducing carbon emissionsHow Salesforce's Sustainable AI Principles are shaping the future of technologyThe role of corporate leadership in driving climate actionSalesforce’s efforts to maximize the environmental benefits of AILinks:Salesforce: https://www.salesforce.com/Green Code Initiative: https://www.salesforce.com/green-codeAll episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member and get an ad-free version of the podcast: https://plus.acast.com/s/everybody-in-the-poolPlease subscribe and tell your friends about Everybody in the Pool! Send feedback or become a sponsor at in@everybodyinthepool.com!